So what's on my Agenda now?

It's been a long year, this 2010 and I am glad that it is over!! I can't say that 2011 has started off very exciting, but I wiped the slate clean and figure I am just starting over.
I always have goals so I don't really like to say I made resolutions, but I guess I did!
Here they are:

First I registered for The Warrior Dash, I have spent the last few years exercising, will little goals except to not gain any of the weight back that I had lost. Well I can't say that it was a very successful goal. So I decided that I need to TRAIN and not just exercise. So I have designed an exercise program for myself to increase cardiovascular endurance, upper body strength and increase my all around fitness level. More weight training, and added interval training with plyo thrown in. So far, I am enjoying it and shedding a few pounds to boot.

Next, I am learning to play ukulele. I am having fun with it. I have never played and instrument, so this year I want to get competent at it and just have a good time. I am going to start a 10 week course in February. Yeah!

Another goal I have is to knit myself a sweater. I have made a few baby sweaters and lots of cool stuff that doesn't need to necessarily 'fit' so this year I am going to knit myself a sweater. I believe it is going to be this one.   I am really looking forward to getting this started soon.

I continue my schooling, and I am making progress. Slow and steady for sure. I have 5 more classes left before I start writing my thesis! I am nervous and excited because I want to do it, but really NEED to get my topic situated so in all my reading and work, I can start to put together research materials. This may be the most grueling part of my year! It's hard to believe that I have made it as far as I have!

I am also working on some fitness certifications. This is going VERY  slow. As you can see, I keep very busy.   I am making progress and moving forward though. YEAH!

I continue to do volunteer work for the Navy and the school PTA. I enjoy it however it keeps me busy for sure! The family is good, the kids are always busy which means that Mom's taxi is always running out of gas! ( pun intended) I can't complain, I manage to make time for everything! I still cook and do crafty things when I can as well.

Sure hope that all of you are starting out this new year with some great, have you given up on new years resolutions already? I hope not, and if so just make some new ones and keep moving!

Exercise DVD Review!!

Another great DVD to add to your collection! Jillian brings it on with her usual vengeance. Jillian uses a series of good old fashioned exercises (burpees, squat thrusts, planks) to raise your heart rate along with strengthening your core, you also get down on the ground for some good old fashioned abdominal work as well. Don't expect to just do a crunch or two, Jillian gets your whole body involved! I have done level one 2 times now and definitely got some great calorie burn out of the 35 minutes!

I love this video for its pure exercise experience, it is not difficult to do the maneuvers, but don't get me wrong, most will be challenged by this workout! Jillian explains each exercise well and goes slow enough the first round that most anyone can understand how to do these moves. She has two gals with her, one doing a more modified move and one doing the more advanced, she gets close up and personal with each, to show the importance of great form and modification.

I picked this video up for $6.99 at BJ's club and I have to say, it could possibly be the BEST 7 bucks I have ever spent on a video. Definitely the best bang for the buck or save yourself the trip and order it here.

Small but Mighty!! Love my Fellow Navy Spouses!!!

If you have been reading my blog for awhile you know that I attempt to be a runner, not a fast one but a runner none the less. What you may not know is that I am a Navy Spouse, my blog isn't really about that, so I don't talk about it much. It has been quite a ride (maybe better if I learned how to swim years and years ago, I digress). I was excited and pleased last night at a meeting of the Navy Family Readiness group when one of my fellow spouses brought up forming a team for the Susan B Komen Race for the Cure~ I signed up as soon as I got home!

I am excited to be part of this, it's the first time I have fun for a cause, and in my heart I know and believe that this is a good one! I am blessed to be part of a team of amazing people some who will be running or walking their first 5k or 2 mile (family walk). I have motivated myself, and I hope to motivate others not only to improve the lives of others, but their own.

Here's how you can help!

Join our team, run as an individual, or form your own team(traitor): HERE

Donate any amount you can: HERE

(If you can not donate how about tweeting, share on fb, or on your blog, the link to my blog post, I thank you and the tata's thank you!!)

Or how about volunteering: Go HERE

Anyone want to be our team photographer? Please let me know!

So here are my goals:

To inspire my fellow runners to achieve their best and feel good about the race!

To raise a million dollars (a girl can dream right)

To feel good about my efforts to help the cause

To improve my 5K time

To Lose 10lbs before the race!

Wish me luck and support me and my fellow runner's for our cause!! I can say now that I have never been more proud to be part of the Navy spouse community!! I am blessed! Now get out there and train!!!

Deepening My Educational and Personal Journey

Imagine my surprise when this box showed up at my door! It wasn't like I didn't know it was coming; however, the overwhelming reality is I had no idea what I signed myself up for! This pile of books, CD's and DVDs is the American Fitness Professionals and Associates(APFA) Master Trainer Certification course! I have looked at their programs for a long time, as long as I looked at the ACE certification, well circumstances presented itself (thank you MyCaa) and I am now enrolled. I feel like I just went from Kindergarten to Grad school in one fail swoop!

The program encompasses a second(for me) personal trainer certification, a nutrition and wellness certification, a sports conditioning certification and one I am very excited for children's fitness specialist certification! After attaining these (how sad is it that I am going to have to enlist my elementary children's help to make power point presentations) I will do a series of practicals to get the master training certification! Wow.. lots of work ahead.

I have to remember to balance myself as I am still working on my Master's degree and that I am getting closer and closer to thesis writing time as the days pass! I still have no topic which I hope to render in the next few weeks as I have conferences scheduled with my professor. I also have a husband and 3 children, too many commitments to count and the UN-ability to say NO, which I am getting better at!

Also, some of you know that I have been trying to get paperwork (ie a name for a business) together along with the rest of the papers necessary... well I have decided that when the kids go back to school in a few weeks, I will get my insurance and begin training clients business name or not! Please contact me privately if you are interested! I am only planning to take on a few clients at first to gradually work into more work hours, and insure that my clients get the best possible trianing. I can not express how excited I am to help others embark on this path to a better and more healthy life! Are you next?

Chi Running Clinic

I had the privilege of attending a chi running clinic this past weekend. I had read the book a few years ago, and have tried to follow the principles in the books as much as I can. I am excited to say that one clinic wasn't enough, however it was excellent! It was led by Ann Margaret McKillop of My fitness Recovery. I can't say enough good things about Ann Margaret or her clinic!

Chi running principles are focused on injury free running, utilizing good posture and the strength of your core to keep strength through your core. Keeping your core strong to be able to relax the rest of your body will help you remain injury free when running. I can see that this process can take years to master just as it would if you were to take Tai Chi or another martial art form.

First she walked us through some great postural exercises, some felt really weird as I suppose I really don't have perfect posture (sigh). I have to say, it is amazing how strong our bodies are when they are in alignment! That would be the chi part of it. Strength and alignment. The strength comes from the core. She explained so many things about posture and injuries and how they interrelate to each other. I am sorry to say that I can not remember all the things she said.

I do remember the practice of walking we did lifting our knees and letting our ankles relax! Yes, we need to relax our ankles when we run, who knew! Ann Margaret says this is how knee injuries are born! It amazed me the difference I feel already, even just walking focusing on relaxing those ankles! We sort of joked about feeling like zombies doing this exercise, however I can see with practice the difference it is going to make in my body and my running.

I will be reading the book again to be sure that I refresh my memory on posture, gait etc. She was unable to got into much more detail because it was a large group. I am excited to have new things to focus on with my running and that my running buddy was there with me so we can help each other out with the techniques we learned yesterday!

Thanks to Ann Margaret for a great class and to The Hudson-Mohawk Road Runners Club for sponsoring it!

Perspective...

It was an interesting morning as I headed out for my Wednesday am run. Usually on this run I have my running buddy, but today I was heading out alone! It's always different alone. It was drizzly this morning so I was trying to talk myself out of going and just doing a DVD instead. However, I headed out the door anyway as I knew I would feel GREAT as soon as I got out there and especially after the run was over!

I cranked up some music (one headphone for safety reasons) and headed out the door! I was quickly reminded of why I love to run(note the sarcasm sign!) down certain streets on garbage day. I am not known for my ability to jump (Tony Horton would bust a gut if he saw me doing his plyoX workout, however I do it anyway because it's fun, challenging and good for me!) and off I go jumping and leaping over trash cans and lids. It didn't seem to matter if I ran street or sidewalk, the stuff is all over! I was blessed today to not trip and fall on this run! I don't know about anyone else, but my mind wanders when I run alone. I work to find my focus and just go, keeping myself at a fairly constant pace and heart rate.

So I have to admit, I was saying some choice words about and to the garbage collectors (in my head) about the obstacle course of trash cans all over... I forgot about it for awhile as I ran into an area away from the neighborhood that didn't have trash cans all over, then my mind wandered somewhere else for a bit. Then as I hit the turn in my loop where I head home, there is the garbage truck! I am heading up one of the larger hills and thinking to myself. GREAT not only do I have to jump over and around this stuff, but I will probably get hit with a flying trash can lid instead. Well much to my surprise, I start passing the truck (and they were stopped, weird) and there is two guys back there... GREAT now they are going to mock me instead! Here's where I got some new perspective. Two guys behind the truck, clapping and cheering me on... "Great pace, keep it up", "Good for you"! I was so floored I almost fell over! I'd been cursing them, and they totally blew me away, being nice!

I find it funny how the simple things make a difference in your day! Not only did I think about how much work it would be if all the trash cans, lids and recycle bins were all placed perfectly back in place (not that I don't think it would be nice) but I realized that they are people too trying to do their job to the best of their ability!

It takes all kinds of people to make this world go round... So what are you going to do to make today a better day for someone else, without expecting anything in return?

And on another note here's my new favorite smoothie 'recipe': Enjoy!

approximately 2 cups or large handfuls of Kale

scoop of chia seeds

1/2 cup of frozen mango chunks

1/2 cup of frozen pineapple chunks

1 cup of frozen blueberries

Blend in blender with adequate water to desired consistency. Yummy!!! This is my favorite breakfast before running.

Anyone have a favorite protein powder they like to use... I would love to try one, as it would be great to drink after hard workouts! Please share with me!

I hope everyone has a great day... I just opened the windows, as I realized that it is warmer outside then in and I was a bit chilly in here! Here comes the sun!! Off to do some homework now!!

Need your help and Ideas...

As some of you may know I recently passed my American Council on Exercise Personal trainer certification exam. I am a certified personal trainer now! I need to get marketing materials together(IE I need a business name)so I can get started.

I know you guys are creative people, so here's what I need, I need your ideas on what to name my fitness business. Please keep in mind that I will be doing nutritional consulting/education as well in the future as I either get another certification and when I finish my master's degree. The plan is to train clients (mainly women since it would be in their homes, office gyms etc) and teach weight loss and nutrition education classes too. So now it's your turn... Help me out and brainstorm with me! Can't wait to hear your ideas? I had a few and was bummed out because they were already taken..sigh..

The Vision Board- It's done!!!

I have been working on the elements for this vision board for a few months now. It seems that for some reason there is always something getting in the way of the time to spend to even put it together. I am sure that many of you are wondering what the vision board is even for. Ever since 2004 when I started my weight loss journey, goals were very important so I wrote them down in a little notebook (still have it and still write in it sometimes) however, life is challenging and busy at times and it is easy to just not look in it. So the vision board is a way to have your goals, ambitions, and values out in a way that one can see those things that are most important everyday. It is believed that seeing your goals and visualizing yourself (the way you desire to be) helps things happen in your life.

I realize that just looking at this board is not going to make things happen. I still have to get out there and work at my goals! However, being conscious of these things at all times does make it easier when hard choices come to play, when fear sets in or some other obstacle comes into play.

I have found that I am more on track with where I want to be and I am seeing some success happen already since finishing this board. Of course since taking this photo last week. I have already removed a typo, and thought of some things I would like to add as well. I guess it will be forever changing!

what are your goals and how do you see yourself achieving the things that you want from life?

Fantastic Day and more!!

I started off the day with a bang. When my running buddy wasn't able to run with me because she was home with a sick child and then as fast as it took for the kids to get from the door to the bus at the end of our driveway, the ground was covered with the fluffy white stuff. I opted to kick it by getting out my rebounder and doing the intermediate workout off of this DVD! I forgot how much fun it is to jump on the mini tramp and just how much oxygen it takes to continue to do it for 35 minutes. JB give a great workout, challenges you to push beyond what you think you can do!

I have also recently learned that rebounding is a great way to detoxify your liver! Yes, the bouncing helps activate your liver to clean house! Not to mention it also helps improve lymphatic and immune function and will improve you cardiovascular health, lower your resting blood pressure the benefits go on and on. Just think a few years ago, I bought the rebounder as a new way to exercise, the benefits are many! Here's the veggies that I cooked up for dinner. Tonight it was Ariana's choice and they were stir fried with a little grape seed oil, we had fresh onion, green and yellow, broccoli, corn, spinach, carrot, zucchini and then mixed with the quinoa and a small amount of nuefatchel cheese. Yummy clean eating meal. Quinoa has quickly become one of my most favorite whole grains. I have been working to venture out of so much pasta (completely given up white pasta long time ago) Quinoa is SO tasty with a bit of nutty crunch. I like to use it in recipes in place of coucous since it is a whole grain and much better for you. Quinoa has 222 calories for a 1 cup serving, 5 g of fiber, 8 g of protein, sodium is 1% based on daily value, 39 g of Carbohydrates with a glycemic load of 18. This grain with all essential amino acids packs a strong nutritional punch! So if you haven't given it a try yet pick yourself up some next time you go to the grocery store and see what you think! It also has a great fullness factor, which I also love!! Also stewing in my kitchen, is a few dinosaurs soaking in my kitchen! yikes! We aren't going to eat them so they will not be added with the quinoa; however, my two youngest are enjoying watching them grow in the bowl. So there we go! Dinosaurs brewing in the kitchen, I sure hope they don't get to much bigger! Then the mail came! Wahooo!! My book I won from The Fitness Freak's blog. At first thumb through, this book looks like the best Tosca book yet! I have most of them and love them. I can't wait to dive into the vegetarian recipes in this book and do more reading. The photos are phenomenal and they made me want to dive right in with my fork they are so delicious looking! Thank you so much Nicole for the chance to win this great blog candy and for sending me the book!! Yeah my Bondi Bands arrived too. I have heard so many things about these wonderful wicking headbands that when I found the coupon code for them I decided that I just had to order a few. I seem to have permanent ponytail when I am working out and then leads into when I am not working out because I take a shower and get busy studying and forget to do anything with it. These should give me another option. These headbands are supposed to be wicking, non-slip and come so highly recommended on the running boards that I just couldn't resist. I have had one on my head all day, without pain, without moving! yeah!

here's the code:

Buy 3 get one free- code: ONE

Five for $25- code: FIVE

Then most exciting an envelope from American council on Exercise. My official certificate of certification! I guess I should get my plan in gear, and work on getting insurance and paperwork so I can get started training some clients! I have been collecting up some gear such as medicine balls and kettlebells as well as elastic tubing, and bands. It's all coming together!

I have also been making some progress on my Masters degree. My current class is nutritional counseling. It will also help me in meeting new training clients as well. I am thinking of a few other certifications but for now, Hawthorn has my full attention!

I love having days like this one. Good food, well behaved children, great workouts and I did no laundry today! I am also all ready for my sons class party for valentines day a few days in advance!

A Girl and Her Shoes

I know exactly what you all are thinking, where are the high-heeled toe crunching arch aching contraptions that many women collect. Well I have a few of those, but I don't have any desire to wear them more than needed. The shoes above are the shoes I live in. I chase around 3 kids half my time and the other half I am chasing my drive and desire for fitness and health. If you haven't walked, ran, cycled, or lifted in my shoes read on and maybe just maybe you will understand why, I feel it is so important for me to have these shoes and use them! I wont talk about all them and trust me when I say, they are not ALL lined up in the photo above. Meet my Specialized cycling shoes, if you have ever gone out on a ride with me, you will know, me, chatting and cycling don't always go well together. I haven't rode my bike outside much since moving to NY, mostly because I feel like the roads are so narrow and the drivers are so not cautious of any type of exerciser on the road. Well I love love love these shoes for spinning. They clip onto the bike petal and give a much more rounded leg workout. Clip shoes allow for both pushing downward and pulling upward making the petal stroke much more energy effective for both cycling in or outdoors. Ahh, the dance shoes, I wear these shoes for Zumba. Zumba is a fun, cardio dance aerobics. In this type of exercise there is a lot of twisting which hurt my knees when wearing other types of shoes. The bottom of this shoe allows for ease of twisting with the reduced risk of injury. Meet the mother of all running shoes! Mizuno Wave Nirvana, I dearly LOVE these shoes. I have had issues on and off with my knees and went to get professionally fitted for these shoes. I highly recommend going to a running store for a fitting if you have any intention of running on a regular basis. Unfortunately, I do not get to wear the cute little purple and pink girlie running shoes that we see all over the mall. Most importantly know what sort of arch and gait you have (which is why you should go to someone trained because most of us don't get to watch ourselves run or know what to look for). Anyhow, these shoes are the mother in stability and motion control. I love them and I love being able to run pain free! An old stand-bye for the gym, my nike air's. I can use most of the gym equipment very comfortably. These are great for weightlifting and general exercise at the fitness center. They are not my most favorite but a good stand-bye. These are my Ryka's they are great all around exercise shoes. They are incredibly comfortable to wear. These shoes are like walking on clouds. They are a great all around fitness shoe. I don't recommend running in them as I don't think they have the lateral support I need, but for any other exercise they are great!

What I am really saying here is that all fitness sneakers are not created equal. Be certain that you have the proper shoe for you sport, as having your ankle, knee, and hip misaligned could cause lots of problems. One could get a great workout with only a decent pair of shoes! I cannot ignore the importance of the right shoe for your foot! Our own body weight is a resistance for good exercise if needed. Whatever you do, make a good choice for yourself, eat your veggies and get out there and do some exercise!

Humor Me: The Ultimate in Multitasking!

I just cannot get over this latest gadget on the market. These lovely utensils sport a 1.5 lb weight as a handle! As a newly certified personal trainer, I can not say that I will be recommending them anytime soon. However I just can stop thinking about these funny gadgets!

Can you really burn calories and build muscle by eating with weighted utensils? Stay back when I am doing my P90X because a girl working out while wielding a knife and fork could be a really dangerous thing! Can you imagine doing the bicep curls and scooping up a bite to eat every rep?

And worst of all, where's the spoon? It just might make it all worthwhile if there was a spoon, so I could burn a few extra calories while eating dessert!!!

Have a great day my friends, and please be careful if you choose to eat and exercise at the same time!!

My New running program

I found the outline to the new running program that I am doing with my running buddy, for those of you that are interested in giving it a try here it is. RunSource - GW28k Outline If you are a brand new runner I suggest that you try the couch to 5 k to start. We decided to do this GW28K program because we missed a few weeks when the weather was really nasty. It is however more challenging to run with the sidewalks slippery, so we have have to get creative and run on the streets and find areas that are pretty clean. (IE, not full of ice) sliding on the ice at my age is a bad thing! Goal for this year, 10k in the summer and maybe even a half marathon depending on how my knees hold up with the added distance. If you would like to join my out of the roads. Let me know... I have also set up a ticker on my blog here to keep track of my running and spinning/biking miles. Goal for the year 1200 shouldn't be an issue at all especially with the increased mileage we are planning!